Easy-open composite container

ABSTRACT

An easy-open composite container is provided and comprises a composite can body, a pair of metal ends, and an opening tab (either plastic, metal, or a combination of materials) which are combined in such a manner so as to facilitate opening of the composite container by pulling up on the opening tab. One of the metal end components is thereby completely removed from the composite container body by the upward force exerted on the opening tab. The opening tab is mechanically joined to the metal end component by double seaming or other process. The metal end component may be easily reapplied to the fiber can body for continued packaging of the contents therein by forcing the end closure back into compression fit engagement with the fiber can body.

United States Patent [191 1 May 22, 1973 Griffith [54] EASY-OPENCOMPOSITE CONTAINER [75] Inventor: Edwin D. Griiflth, Pemberville,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Owens-Il1inois,1nc., Toledo, Ohio [22] Filed: June 21,1971 [21] App1.No.: 155,315

[52] 11.8. CI ..220/47, 215/46 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 43/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..220/47, 53; 215/46 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,449,186 9/1948 Wales ..220/47 1,652,668 12/1927 Greenwald ..220/471,748,800 2/1930 Sebell 220/47 X 1,800,791 4/1931 Gunter ..220/471,847,528 3/1932 Gunter ..220/47 1,998,372 4/1935 Laycock... 220/47 X2,207,757 7/1940 Reardon ..220/47 2,344,325 3/1944 Punte ....220/473,224,627 12/1965 Dielmann et a1. ..220/47 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 21,099 1/1911 Norway ..220/53 Primary Examiner-Robert S.Ward, Jr. Attorney Alan J. Steger and E. J. Holler [57] ABSTRACT Aneasy-open composite container is provided and comprises a composite canbody, a pair of metal ends, and an opening tab (either plastic, metal,or a combination of materials) which are combined in such a manner so asto facilitate opening of the composite container by pulling up on theopening tab. One of the metal end components is thereby completelyremoved from the composite container body by the upward force exerted onthe opening tab. The opening tab is mechanically joined to the metal endcomponent by double seaming or other process. The metal end componentmay be easily reapplied to the fiber can body for continued packaging ofthe contents therein by forcing the end closure back into compressionfit engagement with the fiber can body.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 3,734,343

IN VENTOR.

Eowm D. Gra'FFlTH A 6 5 E, J. H Hev ATFQIZMGHS EASY-OPEN COMPOSITECONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tocontainers and, more partic ularly, relates to a composite containerconstructed of relatively lightweight materials which incorporates aneasy-open feature.

In recent years, there have been introduced a number of different typesof lightweight, composite containers constructed of lower strengthmaterials which are considerably less expensive than typical metalcontainers. Examples of such inexpensive containers include thoseconstructed from fiber and plastic materials. Such inexpensivecontainers normally are comprised of a cylindrical fiber body which isclosed at both ends by means of metal end components. Such compositecontainers are both lighter in weight and less expensive than comparablemetal containers formed from tinplate and aluminum.

However, such inexpensive and lightweight composite containers haveencountered problems in packaging applications where it is desirable tobe able to reapply the end component to the composite can body forcontinued storage of a portion of the contents of the compositecontainer. Typically, the metal end components have been attacheddirectly to the composite can body by means of a double seaming method.Such a doubleseamed composite container requires the use of a can openerto gain access to the contents or requires a specially scored endcomponent so that reapplication of the end component to the compositecan body is impossible.

Thus, there is a significant need for and it is an object of thisinvention to provide a lightweight and inexpensive container whichincorporates an easy-open feature which facilitates the quick andconvenient removal of an end component from the can body and allowsreapplication of the end component to the can body for continued storageof the product contained therein.

Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will becomeobvious to those skilled in the art upon reference to the followingdetailed description and the drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment thereof.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lightweight compositecontainer incorporating the easy-open feature of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the combined composite can bodymetal end component and easyopening tab prior to their being attachedtogether.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the components of FIG. 2 showingthem in their final connected position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, this invention provides asubstantially rigid container which may be constructed of fiber,plastic, lightweight metal, or combinations of such materials and whichincorporates an easy-open feature. This invention provides for the useof an easy-opening tab which is used in combination with a composite canbody and a pair of metal end components in such a manner as tofacilitate opening of the container by pulling up on the tab which hasbeen mechanically joined to one of the metal end components by doubleseaming or other process. The entire end component may be removed fromthe container body by exertion of an upward force on the opening tab. Inaddition, the metal end component may be reapplied to the composite canbody for continued storage of the product container therein.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the preferred embodiment,as shown in FIGS. 1-3, features a fiber type container, it should beclear that the invention is equally well suited to be used inconjunction with a thin-walled container constructed of lightweightmetal, plastic, etc.

More particularly, FIG. 1 shows a cylindrical container 10 formed from athin-walled fiber can 12 and a pair of metal end closures 14 and 16. Theconstruction of the cylindrical fiber can 12 is of a standard fiber canconfiguration and can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The fiber can 12 iscomprised of a layer of structural material 18 sandwiched between anouter label 19 and an inner liner 20 which is laminated or bonded to theinside of the structural material layer 18. It should be understood thata variety of different materials can be utilized to produce thestructural material layer 18, the outer label 19, and the inner liner20. As examples of suitable such materials, the inner liner 20 may beformed of a lamination of 0.00035 in. aluminum foil and 25 lb. per reampaper. The structural material layer 18 could be formed from a number oflayers of can stock grade natural kraft linerboard. The outer label 19may be a lamination of 0.001 in. white pigmented high densitypolyethylene and 25 lb. per ream natural kraft paper. The high densitypolyethylene in this example would serve as an outer protective coatingfor the natural kraft paper. Likewise, the inner liner 20 formed ofaluminum foil and paper is positioned so as to be in contact with theproduct being contained within the container 10 and keeps the productout of contact with the structural layer 18.

The metal end closures 14 and 16 are of a standard type used inconnection with composite containers and may be identical with eachother. However, it is suggested that the end closure 16, which is to beremovable and compression fit to the fiber can body 12, have a largerthan normal countersink depth (the distance between the uppermost extentof the seaming panel portion of the end closure and the upper surface ofthe lowest point on the end closure) to give greater abuseresistance forshipping and handling. For example, the end closure should have acountersink depth in excess of 0.150 in. (normal depth is between 0.120and 0.140 in.) and preferably could have a depth in the range of 0.200to 0.250 in. For the purpose of illustration, FIGS. 2 and 3 depict thesequence of compression fitting the end closure 16 to the fiber can body12. It should be understood that the other end closure 14, which isnonremovable, may be attached to the fiber can body 12 by means of anidentical procedure. However, it would be preferable to double seam theend closure 14 to the fiber can body 12 to provide additional strength.

The main feature of this invention is the provision of an easy-openingtab 22 which is attached to the metal end closure 16 to facilitate easyremoval of the metal end component 16 from the fiber can 12. The easyopening tab 22, as can be seen in FIG. 1, incorporates a graspingaperture 24 which is adapted to be easily grasped by human fingers.

Standard procedure for attaching the metal end closure 16 to the fibercan body 12 would involve the use of a double seaming method whereby anouter flange portion 17 of the closure 16 is rolled under the upperflanged end of the composite can body so that both components are thenpressed firmly together to form a double-seamed joint. In thisinvention, as can be seen in the transition from FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, themetal end closure 16 is not double seamed to the upper flanged end ofthe fiber can body 12, but rather is compression fit over the upperunflanged end of the fiber can body while simultaneously being doubleseamed to the easyopening tab 22. Thus, the easy-opening tab 22 ismechanically attached to the metal end closure 16 which in turn is heldin contact with the fiber can body 12 by means of a compression fit asshown in FIG. 3. When it is desired to remove the end closure 16 fromthe fiber can body 12, the easy opening tab 22 may be grasped by meansof the grasping aperture 24 and pulled upwardly to thereby force themetal end closure 16 out of 20 its compression fit with the fiber canbody 12 and remove the entire metal end closure 16. Since the metal endclosure 16 remains intact and the easy-opening tab 22 remains inmechanical engagement with the metal end closure 16, the end closure 16may be reapplied to the fiber can body 12 by means of downward pressureto re-establish the compression fit between the metal end closure 16 andthe fiber can body 12.

It should be noted that if a standard double seaming method is utilizedto attach a metal end closure to a fiber can body, the removal of theend closure is virtually impossible and access to the contents requiresthe use of a can opener or a specially scored end component. Thus,reapplication of the removed portion of a double-seamed end closure isextremely difficult, thereby eliminating continued use of the container.

The easy-opening feature of this invention, incorporating aneasy-opening tab which is mechanically attached to one of the metal endclosures, completely eliminates the disadvantages associated with theprevious method of double seaming a metal end closure to a fiber canbody. THe removal of the metal end closure by means of the easy-openingtab of the subject invention does not distort or damage the metal endclosure or the fiber can body so that the end closure may be re appliedby means of a compression fit to the fiber can body.

A variety of materials can be utilized in forming a suitableeasy-opening tab as disclosed by this invention. One such material, forexample, which has been utilized successfully for the easy-opening tabis 0.020 in. high density polyethylene sheet stock.

Therefore, it should be apparent from the preceding description thatthis invention provides a composite container incorporating an easy-openfeature which facilitates the continuous opening and reclosing of acomposite container. This feature has, heretofore, been unavailable incomposite containers which have typically utilized a double seamingmethod to attach both of the metal end closures to the fiber can body.In contrast to this, the subject invention utilizes a double seamingmethod to permanently attach an easyopening tab to a metal end closureand then utilizes a compression fit to secure the end closure to thefiber can body. The entire end closure can thereby be easily removed byan upward force exerted on the easyopening tab, thereby giving the usera maximum diameter opening for dispensing of the contents within thecomposite container. The metal end closure may then be easily reappliedto the fiber can body for continued packaging of the contents therein byforcing the end closure back into compression fit engagement with thefiber can body. In addition, the easy-open feature of this inventioneliminates the possibility of cuts or scratches on the sharp metal edgesassociated with partially removed double-seamed end closures.

I claim:

1. An easy-open, reclosable composite container comprising:

a cylindrical body;

end closure means mechanically attached into engagement with theopposite ends of said cylindrical body, one of said end closure meansbeing compression fit into engagement with one end of said cylindricalbody and the other of said end closure means being double seamed intoengagement with the other end of said cylindrical body,

and opening tab means double seamed into engagement with said one ofsaid end closure means for removal of said one of said end closure meansfrom compression fit engagement with said cylindrical body, said oneofsaid end closure means being reinsertable into compression fitengagement with said cylindrical body to provide a reclosable compositecontainer.

